Play Until The Final Whistle

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Last night proved casual soccer can be fiercely competitive. We were three goals behind with time running out.

Last night proved casual soccer can be fiercely competitive. We were three goals behind with time running out.

Everyone was shattered. But I didn’t want to lose. So I dug deep and asked my 40 year old legs for 5 more minutes.

We pulled a goal back. I told my team our opponents were getting tired. We needed to push hard. We’d been trailing for almost an hour but we could do this.

I ran forward to pressure their goalie & defenders. Sprinting from player to player as they tried to eat up time and play from the back.

One of their younger guys screamed into the night air. “Will you please stop running!” Music to my ears. We were getting under their skin. His words became my adrenaline.

They lost the ball in midfield. We passed once, twice, three times and put the ball in the back of the net. Time was almost up but we needed one more to complete a crazy comeback.

With seconds to go we pushed forward again. Playing one-twos and looking for each other. Then a long range shot. It missed but bounced off the wall.

Another shot... Desperation, determination and a deflection...

The ball rolled over the line. It gently came to rest in the back of the onion bag. The final kick of the night leveling the scores.

Business can be like soccer. Play until the final whistle. 2019 is not over.